Chapter 10
Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter! Wow have I had such an exhausting and depressing last couple of weeks! Thank you so much for all your support and reviews! You guys are so sweet! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter! God Bless :)
-Innocentia999
Ruperts POV:
The line of prisoners moved towards the chamber, thousands of men, women, and children. They were naked, crying and screaming as they moved towards the chambers. A young little boy of about ten suddenly detached himself from his mother, sprinting away from the line. As I continued to pour the gas in I watched as Wilhelm unleashed his German shepherd and the dog quickly took off after the boy, jumping on him, pinning him down, barking and biting him all over as he screamed. The other Officers looked on nonchalantly and simply let the dog handle him, until finally he went silent. His mother's high-pitched wailing filled the air...
I opened my eyes and sat bolt upright in bed, sweat covering my body and my breathing heavy and labored, the images of my dream still flashing through my mind. I put my head in my hand, and took deep breaths before I slowly began to calm.
After my breathing had returned to normal I threw the sheets off me and rose from the bed, rubbing my eyes and padding across the room to a bottle of Lager* and poured myself a small shot. I quickly threw my head back and downed the liquid. Sighing, I placed the shot glass back on the table.
My eyes alighted on the picture of Otto and I. I unceremoniously plopped down into my chair, gazing exhaustedly at the picture.
"You probably would never have had such nightmares, or be as weak as me. You were Father's favorite after all. Yet, you were also the only one I could ever trust. You were always so strong, always performed the best at every sport we played as boys. Always ready to do your duty for family and country without hesitation. When I always got into trouble, you were there every time to rescue me brother, you were there to tell me what to do." I glanced down for a moment before looking back up at the photo.
"But now you're gone forever. And as much as I don't want to say that, I have to face it like a big boy and move on." I felt a lump forming in my throat but, I quickly pushed it away and strode back to bed.
Lilla's POV:
The next morning I was up on time as usual. I spotted Edith making her bed and padded over to her.
"Edith?"
"Yes?"
"May I ask you a question?"
"Yes."
I kept my voice down because I didn't want anyone, especially Volkenrath, to overhear us.
"What do they burn in that building where the smoke comes from?"
Edith's eyes displayed unbelievable saddness.
"That is the crematoria. Where they burn the bodies from the chambers."
"What chambers?"
"The gas chambers."
I felt a stab of horror and anguish start to fill me.
"Is that where the others in the left line were taken?" I whispered, tears filling my voice.
Sympathy filled Ediths eyes.
She didn't speak but simply nodded seriously.
I felt as if my legs were about to give way beneath me. I could hardly breathe as tears ran down my face. I then recalled our family picture in Officer Heim's desk and my anguish was soon taken over by boiling white got ire and hatred.
Had he been there?! Is that where he had gotten the picture from?! Had he helped to kill my beloved mama and sister?!
I wasn't given much more of a chance to allow my ire to consume me because Volkenrath came in to start beating the prisoners who were too slow to get out of bed. With haste, Edith and I scurried out the door.
###
When I arrived at the Heim's for my normal work I was shown as usual to his Office. He finished scribbling something down and placed his fountain pen neatly to the side, before glancing up at me.
"Are you a good gardener?" he asked.
Normally I would've been taken aback by the unusualness of his question, but I was too consumed with bitterness, anger, and disgust. Barely able to keep my emotions in check, I nodded harshly.
His inquisitive blue eyes glanced me over. Obviously he had noticed something different in my manner, but thankfully he chose to say nothing.
"Follow me" he said.
I trailed him out the front door and to the back of the house.
There was a small garden with wired fencing surrounding it a little ways away from the rear of the structure. It possessed rows of violet colored flowers I knew were called Siberian Irises, which my mother had always grown in her small garden back in Hungary, as well as lilies, roses and others I could not name. Officer Heim opened the small gate, which was about waist height, and gestured for me to go in. I stomped my way past him without a word and waited for his usual patronizing and demanding orders.
"Pull up all the weeds and water the flowers and make sure they're healthy every day."
In furious silence, I knelt down and began to yank out the weeds, determined not to speak one word to him.
Pray for your enemy my brave and loving girl.
I don't want to pray for him Lord! He most likely killed half my family and countless others at the chambers! Little innocent children and you want me to pray for him?! Forget it! People like him never change!
What if I your Lord and Savior had that attitude about you?
I didn't respond to that thought as I angrily yanked another weed out of the moist dark ground.
Remember my darling girl, those who deserve love the least are often the one's who need it the most.
He certainly doesn't seem like he needs love at all. He seems to be perfectly content being a vicious murderer.
You know deep down that is not true. There is more in the heart of your enemy. Do not be fooled by what you see on the surface. Rupert is my son just as you are my daughter and I love him as I love you. I make the sun shine on the good and the bad. Pray for him, please my love, do it for me. I don't want any soul to be lost. And do it for yourself, because hatred will only kill you inside, but love can always heal any wound.
I sighed inwardly.
Alright I will do it for you and for myself but, not for him.
Thank you.
And so it was everyday I began to say a rosary for Officer Heim. I would say it in my head as I worked, I would whisper it at night before I went to sleep, and in my head even during roll call if I thought I would still be able to pay attention.
I prayed for him through July and on into August. During that time Officer Heim did not attempt to initiate much conversation except when he was giving me orders. I was grateful to God that such was the case. My body had also become increasingly weaker due to the lack of food combined with labor. I had lost much weight and I was probably beginning to look half-dead already like many of the other prisoners. I grew tired more and more easily. I had seen some of my fellow prisoners already succumb to what was called starvation sickness and at that point they were usually simply sent off to the chambers.
One day as I toiled in the garden in the mid-August heat with Officer Heim sitting on a stool, supervising me, I heard a soft noise. At first it was simply a soft sound barely within my hearing but it was enough to make me pause in my work and glance in the direction it emanated from.
Then it came again, and this time I heard it clearly for what it was, a whimper.
I lifted myself off my knees and Officer Heim immediately stood to his and feet and blocked my way as I headed for the gate.
"Where do think you're going?"
I sighed inwardly, knowing that I would actually have to verbally communicate with him now.
"I heard a whimper. Someone or something is hurt and needs help. I'll finish my work after I see to this."
I expected him to sternly order me back to weeding, but to my shock he replied "Fine but, I'm coming with you."
"Suit yourself. Now can I get through?"
He wordlessly stepped out of the way and I opened the gate, putting my hand behind my ear to listen more closely as the sound came again.
It seemed to be coming from a small grove of trees near the road outside camp.
I followed the sound until my eyes fell upon a poor puppy, one of its little legs was caught in a wire, which was causing a already raw bloody wound to bleed more as it struggled to free itself. It appeared to be of an uncertain breed, most likely a mix of the breeds I knew to be called Boston terrier and Bull Terrier with medium brown fur and patches of white on it's chest and face and a stubby little tail.
"Oh you poor little thing" I gasped, kneeling down. I was about to reach my hand out to touch him, but Officer Heim seized my wrist.
"Don't touch him" he said.
"And why not?!" I snapped exasperatedly. "Do you wanna leave him to suffer and die too?! Then again I guess I should expect nothing less from a Nazi!"
"IF you would stop shouting at me for one moment then I would tell you the reason is that he might have disease and it's better that I should touch him!"
"Oh I'm sorry are my Jewish hands too unworthy and subhuman to handle even a dog now?!"
"No it's because I actually have gloves!" he snapped, pulling a pair of grey gloves from his pocket and thrusting them forward for me to see.
"Fine, then I'll wear them and handle the dog."
"These are men's gloves."
"Yeah but, I don't see a man do I. I see a reject with a face and personality that's a hideous crime against nature."
"Keeping talking Jew and I'll..."
"You'll what?! Torture me?! Starve me?! Humiliate me?! Well guess what, Mr. Arrogant I'm already in Hell!"
The dogs whimper brought us back from our shouting match and made me remember there were more important matters to attend to.
"Give me your gloves so I can help him."
Officer Heim ignored me and put on the gloves and knelt down.
The dog whimpered again.
"Shh" Officer Heim soothed with surprising gentleness, stroking the dogs head. With astonishing precision and a light touch, he soon had the wire unwrapped.
"His wound needs to be treated and soon" he observed aloud, probably more to himself than to me.
"Will he make it?" I asked.
"It's hard to say but, we need to get him back to the house as soon as possible."
Officer Heim gingerly picked up the canine. The animal was obviously exhausted, as it's head was slumped against Officer Heim's arm.
Officer Heim didn't say anything else as gestured for me to make my way back in the direction of the house. He followed close behind and as we approached his residence, I couldn't quench my astonishment about how gentle and calm he'd been with our new furry friend.
*This a common German alcoholic beverage.
Hey guys, hope I did the characters justice, especially Rupert because he's a much more difficult character to write. PLEASE REVIEW and let me know if I should continue. God Bless :)